Hydrodrome, hydroaeroplane, and the like



A. G. BELL, F. W. BALDWIN, AND S. S. BREESE.

HYDRODROME, HYDROAEROPLANE, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7, I920- Patented Mar. 28, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

W. BALDWIN, OF BAJJDECK, NOVA SOUTHAMPTON, NEW YORK.

COLUMBIA, FREDERICK HYDRODROME, HYDBOAEROPLANE, AND THE LIKE.

Application lfiled May 7, 1920. Serial No.

To all whom. it may concern: 7

Be it known that we, ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Washington, District of Columbia, FREDERICK W. BALDWIN, av subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Baddeck, Nova Scotia, Canada, and SYDNEY REESE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Southampton, New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hydrodromes, Hydroaeroplanes, and the like, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

The present invention relates to hydro-- dromes, hydro-aeroplanes and the like, employing submerged .hydrofoils, and particularly is an improved construction of the hydrofoil sets.

Heretofore, difliculty has been experienced and damage sustained when hydrodromes and the like were travelling at high speed through the water, by the submerged portions of the struts and blades of the hydro-- foil sets hitting obstacles such as logs, seaweed and the like; and the object of the present invention is to provide a construction which will readily ride over and clear such obstacles and which is so shaped that the shock due to the fouling of such obstacles is reduced to a minimum.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrating one expression of the inventive idea, and wherein- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the hull of a -hydrodrome embodying the present inventlon; 1

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; and Fig. 3 is a view showing means for varying the angle of incidence of the blades.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts, 5 is any usual or suitable hull, and 6, 7 and 8 are a series of beams extending transv'ersely therethrough. Thesebeams carry the hydrofoil sets, one. on each side of the medial fore and aft line of the craft. A third set of hydrofoils 9 of any suitable construction is mounted on a vertical pivot 10 at the rear of the bull in the medial fore and aft line of the craft and is utilized for steering purposes. The three, sets of hydrofoils act to support the hull a and associated parts during the planlng actlon.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 28, 1922. 379,478.

The two beam sets of hydrofoils are identical and each comprises a pair of curved struts l1 and 12. The struts are preferably curved on the arc of a circle, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, one end of each strut being supported from beam 6 and the other end of each from beam 8. Preferably, a vertical brace or rod 13 is connected to beam 7 and to each of said strut members.

The struts 11 and 12 carry a series of hydrofoil blades 14 which latter are secured to the struts in any suitable or desired manner, and act to support the craft during the planing action. These blades are normally arranged at the desired angle of incidence and the sets are preferably pivoted in any desired manner so that this angle may be changed to meet changed condltions. As illustrated in Fig. 3, racks 15 and 16 are carried on the ends of the curved struts 11 and 12 and are engaged by pinions 17 and 18, respectively. These racks and pinions are employed to readily effect this The adjustment may also be effected by swinging the rod 13 through suitable connections 19 and 20. As shown, the pinions 17 and 18 are carried by the beams 6 and 8 but they could'be mounted in any other desired manner.

Preferably, also, the sets are mounted so that they may be swung laterally to alter the dihedral angle of the blades 14. The objects and advantages of such a construction have been fully described and claimed in the copending application of A. G. Bell and F. W. Baldwin, Serial N 0. 379,476, filed May 7, 1920. The improved hydrofoil sets herein could be similarly mounted and swung.

It is pointed out that the rearwardly curv ing struts l1 and 12 would strike any obstacle a glancing blow and would readily ride or pass over seaweed, logs or the like. This form of hydrofoil set is inherently strong and susceptible of ready adjustment to meet any conditions. It' will be understood that, while in the drawings only the conventional hull of a hydrodrome is shown, the inventlon is equally applii able to hydro-aeroplanes.

lle, for 1 1e purpose of illustration, one mechanical emsodiment of theinventive idea is herein shown and described in detail, the invention is not limited thereto but t he inadjustment.

ventive idea is susceptible of various expressions within the limits of the appended claims.

What is claimed is I 1. In a device of the character described, a curved hydrofoil strut, a plurality of hydrofoil blades carried thereby, and means for swinging said strut to change the angle of incidence of said blades.

2. In a device of the character described, a curved hydrofoil strut extending rearwardly, a plurality of hydrofoil bla es carried thereby, and means for swinging said strut to change the angle of incidence of said blades.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair of curved hydrofoil struts, hydrofoil blades'carried thereby, and means for swinging said struts to change the angle of incidence ofsaid blades.

4:. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair of hydrofoil sets one arranged on each side of the medial fore and aft line of the craft, each set comprising a pair of curved struts and a plurality of hydrofoil blades carried thereb 5. In a device of the character descri ed, a curved hydrofoil strut struck on the arc of a circle, and a plurality of hydrofoil blades carried thereby.

6. In a device of the character described, a hull, a plurality of beams extending transversely thereof, and a hydrofoil set carried by said beams one on each side of the medial fore and aft line of the craft, each set comprising a curved hydrofoil strut one end of which is connected to one beam and the other end to a second beam, and a plurality of hydrofoil blades carried by each strut.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification.

ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL. FREDERICK W, BALDWIN. SYDNEY S. BREESEV 

